If you have found a vacation rental in Livorno and are driving along the coastal road by the Tyrrhenian Sea, you will round a corner 9km down the road and take in the incredibly evocative sight of the lovely Boccale Castle. Located just south of the Antignano district, along the road to Quercianella, the castle is romantically and dramatically perched on top of a stop cliff on the Etruscan coast in a cove called the Cala dei Pirati (or “Den of Pirates”).
This charming castle was originally built as a defensive structure that was intended as a method of protecting the area from marine attacks, particularly those by pirates and other clans or rulers that might be contesting ownership of the lands in the area at any given time. The oldest part of the building dates back to the 16th century and was a Medici-built lookout tower but the complex that exists as we see it today resulted from building works that took place in the 19th and the 20th centuries.
This charming castle was originally built as a defensive structure that was intended as a method of protecting the area from marine attacks, particularly those by pirates and other clans or rulers that might be contesting ownership of the lands in the area at any given time. The oldest part of the building dates back to the 16th century and was a Medici-built lookout tower but the complex that exists as we see it today resulted from building works that took place in the 19th and the 20th centuries.
From the late nineteenth century onwards, the castle was transformed into a medieval-style residence and it is today privately owned and divided into several residential apartments. As such, it cannot be visited by the public. However, in spite of this, it can be enjoyed from a distance and makes the wonderful surrounding scenery all the more beautiful and intriguing. Just pull along nearby as you drive by while exploring the coast in the area, enjoy the pretty cove, go for a swim in this wonderfully scenic spot and simply sit back and enjoy in the incredible sight before you while you're at it.
Boccale Castle is gorgeous against blue skies and the crystal clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea but, if you catch it at sunset, it is especially lovely with the colours of the changing sky as a stunning backdrop. However, no matter when you visit, this romantic sight in Tuscany is sure to take your breath away!
Boccale Castle is gorgeous against blue skies and the crystal clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea but, if you catch it at sunset, it is especially lovely with the colours of the changing sky as a stunning backdrop. However, no matter when you visit, this romantic sight in Tuscany is sure to take your breath away!